Grief Digest Articles

Goodbyes are necessary. How do you tend to say them? What usually comes upon your mind when saying goodbyes? When was the last time you expressed goodbyes, not out of mere habit or formality, but for real?Some years ago, I met a mourner who was pivotally struck with the fragile nature of life. Though the celebratory campaign of "strength," "resilience," and "endurance" of humanity is heavily promoted in society, in the end, each of us has a distinct – and promised – day of death. Strength, resil …

I walk out to my driveway on a routine chore, find to my amazement a glorious, noble raptor. I decide it has just died. It is perfect. I am stunned by its dark head, striped gray and black feathers, white breast, and yellow legs. Even in death it looks powerful, intelligent, alert. As a city girl, it's hard to organize a funeral for such a magnificent creature, alone. I gently place it in a wooded area …

Saying goodbye is harder during a pandemic. Having a wake, celebration of life, or even a visitation is no longer possible with stay at home orders, limited gatherings, and indoor restrictions. Loving a loved one during a pandemic has cast a shadow over grief, mourning, and bereavement. Traditional ways of managing death are not able to comfort those who are grieving. Restrictions on funeral homes, churches, dining, and even grave site services make it exceedingly difficult to honor our dead o …

Judy Lipson We are all experiencing challenging and unprecedented times Numerous hours spent at home with an abundance of time to think. This is not always a good prescription for those of us who have lost loved ones coupled with the repeated stories of escalating multiple deaths on a daily basis. I have to distance myself from the news and try to focus on being grateful that my family and extended family are all safe and healthy. With time on our hands, although taxing, for me the best prac …

The alarming increase in suicide rates during the past decades have forced us to deal differently with an issue that not very long ago, was rarely talked about. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) more than 48,000 deaths by suicide took place in the United States in 2018. This amounts to approximately 1 death every 12 minutes! Males are 4 times more likely to end their own lives than females although females attempt it two to three times more often.The National Institute of Mental …